Sometimes I feel I've got to
Run away, I've got to
Get away
From the pain you drive into the heart of me
The love we share (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
Seems to go nowhere
And I've lost my light
For I toss and turn, I can't sleep at night

Once I ran to you (I ran)
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a boy could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
Tainted love

Now I know I've got to
Run away, I've got to
Get away
You don't really want any more from me
To make things right
You need someone to hold you tight
And you think love is to pray
But I'm sorry, I don't pray that way

Once I ran to you (I ran)
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a boy could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
Tainted love

Don't touch me please
I cannot stand the way you tease
I love you though you hurt me so
Now I'm gonna pack my things and go
Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
Touch me, baby, tainted love
Touch me, baby, tainted love
Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
Tainted love

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Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21

Tainted Love Lyrics as written by Edward Cobb

Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION

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Tainted Love song meanings

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78 Comments

+7
General Comment
For anyone who's interested these are the facts of this song. It was written by Ed Cobb in the 60s and was originally sung by Gloria Jones (the partner of T-Rex's Marc Bolan) In early 80s it was covered by English alternative synth-pop duo Soft Cell, and later again by Marilyn Manson and others. Soft Cell's 1981 version is the most well-known version recorded, hence the common misconception that singer-songwriter Marc Almond wrote it. Since the early 80s it's been a dance club staple, especially the kick-ass extended version! It is NOT about either AIDS or the tragic death of Marc BOLAN! As far as the lyrics go there's no great mystery. The song is sung from the POV of a guy who's in a toxic - or "tainted" - relationship with another person who is emotionally and physically stringing them along. So although he truly loves the other person, he eventually makes the difficult decision to leave knowing that his own needs will never be met.

For anyone who's interested these are the facts of this song. It was written by Ed Cobb in the 60s and was originally sung by Gloria Jones (the partner of T-Rex's Marc Bolan) In early 80s it was covered by English alternative synth-pop duo Soft Cell, and later again by Marilyn Manson and others. Soft Cell's 1981 version is the most well-known version recorded, hence the common misconception that singer-songwriter Marc Almond wrote it. Since the early 80s it's been a dance club staple, especially the kick-ass extended version! It is NOT about either AIDS or the tragic death of Marc BOLAN! As far as the lyrics go there's no great mystery. The song is sung from the POV of a guy who's in a toxic - or "tainted" - relationship with another person who is emotionally and physically stringing them along. So although he truly loves the other person, he eventually makes the difficult decision to leave knowing that his own needs will never be met.

Reason:

Lantaon August 12, 2009 Link
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@Lanta
+5
General Comment
haha...........marilyn mansons was NOT better....

haha...........marilyn mansons was NOT better....

Reason:

stupidpunkkidon August 04, 2002 Link
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@stupidpunkkid
+4
General Comment
The 80's WAS FUN even without cell phone, Xbox Live, or FaceBook. And everybody born in the 70's certainly has every lyric engraved in their minds forever.

The 80's WAS FUN even without cell phone, Xbox Live, or FaceBook. And everybody born in the 70's certainly has every lyric engraved in their minds forever.

Reason:

curefan1on August 24, 2010 Link
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@curefan1

The 80's were fun because there were no cell phones; xbox; Facebook; etc. Now people spend time often alone behind screens when in the 80's we were forced to communicate. Even making a phone call meant having to find a way to the nearest pay phone. During a trip looking for a phone we met many strangers along the way or we had to ask friends to drive us, etc. We were social in a better way...face-to-face. If we wished to dump somoene we couldn't just text him/her; we had to (at a minimum) say what we felt (or didn't feel) over the phone to a real person's voice (one who would then share his/her pain, etc). We are a colder society due to technology and we are also a more impatient society...wanting instant results the way we get them in video games, etc. I feel SO blessed to have been born pre-70's! And the music of the 70's and 80's was WONDERFUL...

spinachsaladon November 10, 2011

OMG...you gave me a positive rating ;) I feel so...sooo....sooo blessed.

spinachsaladon November 10, 2011
+3
General Comment
The 7" version had a cover of "Where did our love go" on the b-side. The 12" version had "Tainted Love" merging into "Where did our love go". As a result of having cover versions on both sides of the single Soft Cell made very little money from one of the biggest selling singles ever.

The 7" version had a cover of "Where did our love go" on the b-side. The 12" version had "Tainted Love" merging into "Where did our love go". As a result of having cover versions on both sides of the single Soft Cell made very little money from one of the biggest selling singles ever.

Reason:

bobo-sparkyon February 07, 2006 Link
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@bobo-sparky
+2
General Comment
i absolutely love this song sooooooooooooooooo much it is so fun listening to it i never get tired of it!!!!!!!!!!!!! i could listen to it 100times and never get tired of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i absolutely love this song sooooooooooooooooo much it is so fun listening to it i never get tired of it!!!!!!!!!!!!! i could listen to it 100times and never get tired of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reason:

funny_2002on May 08, 2002 Link
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@funny_2002
+2
General Comment
This is a great song with an awesome beat. I love to listen to it when i am in my car cruisin with friends when i wanna laugh and have a good time!!!

This is a great song with an awesome beat. I love to listen to it when i am in my car cruisin with friends when i wanna laugh and have a good time!!!

Reason:

shakeitrachelon May 11, 2002 Link
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@shakeitrachel
+2
My Interpretation
Clearly somebody suffering through what therapists call "Narcissistic Abuse." While that term is thrown around lightly, it applies to a personality disorder in the DSM. The phrase "pray that way" was meant IMHO to be "prey that way." Somebody with this character adaptation (NPD) preys on others with a phony love and affection, in order to control another human being. About 2/3rds are men, and another 1/3 are women (often called "covert," "introverted" or "shy" narcissists. Much work is being done in this field now (especially from the Mayo Clinic) and this song could be a survivor's anthem. You can wake up in a fog, and realize that the love you thought was real was truly a means to exploit you. So you run.... if you ever expect to preserve your sanity.

Clearly somebody suffering through what therapists call "Narcissistic Abuse." While that term is thrown around lightly, it applies to a personality disorder in the DSM. The phrase "pray that way" was meant IMHO to be "prey that way." Somebody with this character adaptation (NPD) preys on others with a phony love and affection, in order to control another human being. About 2/3rds are men, and another 1/3 are women (often called "covert," "introverted" or "shy" narcissists. Much work is being done in this field now (especially from the Mayo Clinic) and this song could be a survivor's anthem. You can wake up in a fog, and realize that the love you thought was real was truly a means to exploit you. So you run.... if you ever expect to preserve your sanity.

Reason:

thomcaton October 03, 2019 Link
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@thomcat
+1
General Comment
this is such an AWESOME song -- the two beats between "sometimes i feel i've got to" beat/beat "run away" that are repeated through the song, MAKE the song!

this is such an AWESOME song -- the two beats between "sometimes i feel i've got to" beat/beat "run away" that are repeated through the song, MAKE the song!

Reason:

emmychloeon May 12, 2002 Link
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@emmychloe
+1
General Comment
Dun dun! TAINTED LUVVV! that song..is the best...it has by far the most kik-ass beat-beat i've heard in a long time.. i luv this song to death... :-) -Pö£ô-

Dun dun! TAINTED LUVVV! that song..is the best...it has by far the most kik-ass beat-beat i've heard in a long time.. i luv this song to death... :-) -Pö£ô-

Reason:

glo151on May 28, 2002 Link
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@glo151
+1
General Comment
Actually, I think there's an extended version with that bit from the Supreme's song. Either way, this song is amazing times ten.

Actually, I think there's an extended version with that bit from the Supreme's song. Either way, this song is amazing times ten.

Reason:

missbinnyon March 09, 2003 Link
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@missbinny